Craster Walk with a Fishy finish

Something a little bit different from the usual Wednesday walk. Ken arrived on the train from Edinburgh at Alnmouth Station but without John who had to drop out last night due to a chest infection. Peter, Tom, and I met him off the train having stayed last night in Newcastle and we headed off to Craster with the clouds clearing

Dunstanburgh Castle which can only be reached by walking almost a mile.

Closer view of the Castle

These sheep were guarding the entrance to the Castle

The next part of the walk took us along the beach where there is this fine geological example. Niall will have to provide us with information about this at a later date.

On the beach

Half way along the beach we had to cross this stream. Only Peter took his boots and socks off to cross it while the rest of us crossed at speed and managed to avoid wet feet.

Crossing at speed

Putting his socks on

Dunstanburgh Castle on the skyline

The square at Low Newton. The Ship Inn provided us with a lovely coffee break. It was too early for lunch and a pint of their own brewed beer.

Outside the Brewery

The Nature Reserve among the Sand Dunes on way back to Craster

Tom loves to see a Golf Course and this was a very nice one.

Among the Sand Dunes there are several wooden huts that were probably built between the wars before there were planning laws like today.
We ended up back in Craster for a lovely lunch in the Jolly Fisherman. The food and service was excellent and I can recommend it to anybody.

From Whitley Bay to North Shields

As a change this week we are walking in Northumberland and staying at our Fiona's in Newcastle before our big walk on Wednesday. Tom & Peter joined me in High Heaton at lunch time and we headed out to Whitley Bay and parked at the Metro Station before walking to North Shields and then returning on the Metro. This photograph is Tom and Peter before they tried an extreme sport on Tynemouth beach.

And this is them surfing.

This is the old open air swimming pool at Tynemouth. There is a plan to raise money and turn it into a heated pool using thermal energy so with a bit of luck they will succeed and it will be a great success.

Tynemouth Beach

These cannons were guarding a memorial to Admiral Collingwood at the entrance to the River Tyne

A lady stopped us and said how much she liked Peter and Toms pink hats. They are now very worried about their image.

This is the monument complete with cannons guarding the entrance to the river Tyne so the Geordies can sleep well they are well protected.

The Meeting of the Waters

With bad weather forecast to come in from about 12 noon the plan was to do a 5/6 mile walk locally and finish by 1.00pm so we headed for Canonbie and parked at the Parish Church. A group of council workers were digging a grave as we parked up and were informed it was for a Friday funeral which was just as well as they were still at it when we returned 2.5 hours later.

With snow still on the ground and for once Canonbie had more than Langholm.

This is the Deed Nook pool where a couple of hundred years ago some worshippers from the local church were drowned while crossing the river Esk in flood in a ferry boat.

The steps at the riverside need some repairs done as they are now at an angle.

Tom explains where the Memorial Seat in memory of Rotarian Alastair Davies will be placed at the Meeting of the Waters.

And the view from the seat when it will be placed there hopefully in time for the Canonbie Umbrella Walk at the end of March.

Peter advised us he had never been here before so we had to take his photo.

We completed the walk with the rain and sleet only coming along for the last half hour. A very enjoyable walk in good weather apart from the last mile.